Macker Ball

Jason looking to drive

Over the past weekend Jason and Ryan Penrod played in the Lafayette Macker. They were both looking forward to playing until the emails and phone calls began rolling in. On Friday during the day they had received an email from one of the other two guys who was playing in the 3-on-3 tournament with them that he would not be making it. Not a big deal since they still had the other guy to round out the 3-on-3. Before the night was over the other guy had called to say that since the first guy bailed he would not be coming to play either. How old are these guys? 2? Needless to say, Jason and Ryan played on Saturday and Sunday 2-on-3. They even managed to give the other teams a run for their money. The GusBuster on their court awarded them with the sportmanship award for playing 2 guys short. Both of them really enjoyed their selves and were glad that they didn't allow 2 other guys to ruin what was a fun weekend of basketball.

Look at that shot and follow through

Valeri and Morgan Came Home for a Visit

Here We Are

Erica w/ Beckett, Mom, Jason, Megan w/ Emerson

Matt w/ Cooper, Valeri w/ Sawyer, & Morgan w/ Ainsley

It was great to have Valeri and Morgan come back to Indiana for a visit. It has been a couple of months since they were to for a visit but this time they stayed for over a week. I was so good to see them and spend some valuable time with them. We really got to know Morgan better and enjoyed our late night Saturday visit with him and Weed. I hated to see them leave knowing it will be a long time until they are able to come and visit again. It is hard to believe that Weedie is married but she seems to happy.

We had this picture taken one day in Indy since it had been almost 3 years since we had a group picture taken professionally. The last picture taken didn't have Sawyer, Beckett or Morgan in it and Ainsley was only 5 months old. I think we needed to update the pictures at Mom's house. I was fun to try to get all the kids to look in the same direction and look pleasant at the same time. We choose the pictures that showed our kids true personalities.

I am so thankful to live close to so much family. I couldn't imagine not getting to see them several times throughout the year! Love you all so much!

Our Dancing Queen

Dressed and ready for tap

Along with beginning preschool today Emerson also started taking tap lessons. She has been so excited for tap to begin because Ggma & Ggpa gave her some dance outfits for her birthday. She choose to wear her purple leotard with her purple tights (Grandma Pat would be proud) and of course, her brand new tap shoes from Brinkman's. She even saw a girl from her preschool class at tap and learned that the little girl's name was Megan.

Waiting patiently for her turn

Emerson couldn't wait to get into the room where she was going to have her lessons. She listened very intently and waited patiently for her turn. When her turn came she heel, stepped and toe, stepped until her heart was content. After class was over she made me promise that she could show Jason what she had learned when dinner was over. The recital date won't get here fast enough. Prissy looked so cute out there tapping! Sawyer wanted to join her but I think he and I will just keep watching!

Is this right Miss Laurie?

Preschool Begins

Emerson all ready for preschool

Emerson was so excited for her first day of preschool. She had picked out her outfit a couple of days ago. She couldn't wait to wear her new backpack that Grandpa Dave bought for her and to meet some new friends. Jason took the morning off so that he could go with Sawyer and me to drop her off. She couldn't wait to get inside and begin her day at school. I think I caught Jason with a tear or two welling up as we walked back to the car. He kept saying, "this is the first day of her educational experience...she is old enough to go to school."










Sawyer and me walking Emerson to her first day of preschool

Day at the Museum

Uncle Morgan, Aunt Valeri, Cooper,

Emerson and Ainsley dressed up like

dinosaurs at the Dinosaur exhibit

Honey and Sawyer play with the hand powered train

The kids and I spent the day at the Indianapolis Children's Museum with Mom, Bon, Morgan, Weed, Coop, Pain & Becks. The kids had so much fun exploring the museum. It was my kids first time there, Erica's had been there before, and it had been years since I had stepped foot in there. I remember thinking it was so much larger when I was younger. Sawyer loved the hand powered trains and Emerson loved the science area in the museum. They both really enjoyed the pool ball exhibit that they explored with Aunt Valeri. I liked the dinosaur exhibit. As you pull up to the museum it looks like three dinosaur have broken out and are running away. There was so much to do that we didn't get to that I would like to go back again with Jason soon.

Sawyer driving the digger

Uncle Morgan also gave the kids some change to send spiralling down one exhibit that displays how a coin wants to roll in a straight line. The kids loved watching the coins roll but didn't want them to disappear. Cooper even managed to catch a couple of his coins before they vanished.

Cooper, Emerson and Ainsley

watching their coins roll